John Kenward – Master Thatcher

About Us

The first time I ever climbed up a roof was at the tender age of 4. My father was thatching a big house at Henley on Thames. On this particular day my father went for a cup of tea, I came round and saw the ladder against the roof. I proceeded to climb up and got to the top of the ladder. Low and behold my father had a look of shock on his face when he returned. He got me down safely and since that day I have been up and down ladders for 49 years.

I am now a sixth generation Thatcher and my craft has been inherited and handed down from generation to generation. my brother David is also a Thatcher.
Within our family we are familiar with all types of thatch; Water Reed, Combed Wheat Reed, Long Straw, Heather and even Veldt Grass. In doing all the different kinds of thatch it does make a change to use different materials.

I have thatched from Norfolk to the New Forest. However most of my work is predominantly in London and the home counties, although I will and have travelled all around the country. I have my two step sons working with me, Gavin and Aaron and unless otherwise stated we do not use sub-contractors.

We pride ourselves in doing all the work ourselves. My father was 82 when he last went up a thatched roof and his father, 91. My passion for thatching makes no distance too far, and no job too big or too small.